Rail bond terminal



Nov- 8, 939- c. E. STOLNACKEI AL RAIL 30m) TERMINALY Filed Dec-. 14, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ma EENEST J. 5145OL.

' for longitudinal insertion between the parts of this bifurcated stud with its small end Patented Nov. 28, 1939 ES PATENT OFFICE RAIL BOND TERMINAL Carl E. Mass,

Stolnacke and Ernest .i.

assignors to The American Steel and Sabol, Worcester,

Wire Company of New Jersey, a corporation of New Jersey Applicationnecember 14, 1937, Serial No. 179,750

3 Olaims- (Cl. 173-280).

This invention relates to rail bond terminals of the type applied to a relatively shallow,

small diametered,

bottomed recess formed in the side of the head of a rail.

Generally speakin cording tion of a head to which ductor may be fixed, a stud extending from 8- recess a terminal constructed acto this invention includes the combinathe necessary bond conlong'ltudinally bifurcated this head for insertion in of the character mentioned and a wedge pointing toward the aforementioned head and having a taper permitting its large end to project beyond the end expansion of the latter.

of the bifurcated stud without material This large end is adapted to contact the bottom of the rail recess when the stud is partially inserted in the same,

and

to expand the stud by reason of the latters bifurcated character upon the stud being forced further inward.

Terminals embodying the above principle, along with certain modifications, are illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an installed bond of the type with which the present invention is concerned and embodying the features of the Figures 2 and 3 are sections, the lines 11-11 in Figure same. both taken from 1, Figure 2 showing the terminal about to be installed and Figure 3 showing the installation.

Figure 4 illustrates a modification of the terminal shown by the first three, figures.

Figures 5 and 6 are sections similar to Figures 2and3 but illustrate a second example.

Figure 7 shows this second example dissembled in elevation.

Figure 8 is a section taken from the line VIII- VIII in Figure '7.

Figure 9 is a modification of one of the elements shown by Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a view similar to showing Figure '7, but

a modification of the second example.

To more clearly illustrate the use of the invention,

reference may be made to Figure 1,

which shows two .rail ends I bonded by a short conductor 2 having terminals 3 of the character with which the invention is concerned. Figure 2 shows the terminal head 4 from which the longitudina wedge 6 lly bifurcated stud 5. extends and the which is'inserted between the parts of of the wedges previously shown.

the stud, with its small end pointing toward the head 4, this wedge having a. taper permitting its large end to project beyond the end vof the stud without material expansion of the latter. Since the stud is not expanded it can be easily' 5 slipped into the position shown by Figure 2. The next figure, numbered 3, shows the terminal after a hammer I has applied force to the outer surface or the head 4 to cause the wedge 6 to perform its function. It will be noted that the head 4 is shown as having a cylindrical side and that the surface of the head 4 opposite the. stud 5 is centrally raised, as at 8, so as to flatten (as it has done in the case ofFigure 3) without materially deforming this cylindrical side. The wedge functions primarily as a wedge, although its end may plastically deform to some extent, as illustrated.

A modification of this first example is shown by Figure 4, this modification being characterized by a stud 9 which is not completely bifurcated, and by the use of a wedge I0 which is somewhat shorter than the wedge 6, although both wedges have widths not greater than the diameter of 1 the studs so as to prevent their projecting laterally when in use.

Theterminal constituting the second example, shown by Figures 5 through 8, embodies a head II from whicha longitudinally bifurcated stud l2 extends, it being in this respect similar to the first example. However, the wedge l3 used in this case is pin-like in that it is of circular crosssection, as contrasted to having the fiat sides To accommodate this wedge l3, the two parts of the stud I2 are oppositely grooved, as at M, to provide a longitudinal passage for receiving the pin-like wedge, the head ll being provided internally with a recess l5 of sufficient extent to permit the insertion of the wedge l3 to an extent effecting proper expansion of the stud l2. Figures 5 and 6 show this second example in the two stages of its installation.

The first modification of this second example is illustrated by Figure 9, wherein a pin l6 hav- 5 ing wings I! fitting between the parts of the stud I2 is substituted for the wedge l3. These wings i1 may be tapered to provide auxiliary wedges, if desired, and in all cases function as guiding elements for the pin-like wedge.

Figure 10 illustrates a second modification of this second example, the same parts being used as shown by Figure 7 except that the passage I5 is replaced by a passage l5 that is shallower than the other so that when the pin l3has par- 55 the end of this fication of the second example except that more,

control is provided the workman. This third example has a head it and a bifurcated stud I 9, the two parts of the latter being grooved, as at 20, to provide a passage for a pin-like wedge 2i, the distinguishing feature being that the recess i6- prevlously mentioned is substituted by a bore 22 which extends completely from the passage 20 to the outside surface of the head, where it opens. Then the wedge 2i is longer, it having a length exceeding the total length of the terminal, so that in the case of this third example, the wedge 2i performs its wedge function until the head i8 strikes the side of the rail head surrounding the recess, this bringing the small end of the wedge 2i beyond the outer surface of the head i 8, due to its large end contacting the bottom of the recess. Thus, the small end of the wedge is accessible and can be struck with the hammer so as to cause its plastic deformation. If the hammer is used against the center of the head i 8 at the opening of the bond 22 at this time, the wedge will automatically function as a wedge and as a plastioally expanded plug.

We claim: r

1. A rail bond terminal including the combination of a head, a longitudinally bifurcated stud extending from said head for insertion in abuttomed railvrecess and a wedge for longitudinal insertion between the parts of said stud with its small end pointing toward said head and having a taper permitting its large end to project beyond the end of said stud without material expansion of the latter, said large end being adapted to contact the bottom-of said rail recess when said stud is partially inserted therein and expand said stud upon the latter being forced further inwardly, said wedge being pin-like and said parts of said stud being oppositely grooved to provide a longitudinal passage for said wedge, the length of said passage being less than the length of said wedge so that when the small end of the latter plastically expanding plug. made of material sufficiently reaches the end of said a plastically expanding plug, said wedge malleable to flow when stressed by compression greater than that required to cause it to function as a wedge.

2. A rail bond terminal including the combination of a head, a longitudinally bifurcated stud extending from said head for insertion in a bottomed rail recess and a wedge for longitudinal insertion between the parts of said stud with its small end pointing toward said head and having a taper permitting its large end to project beyond the end of said stud without material expansion of the latter, said large end being adapted to contact the bottom of said rail recess when said stud is partially inserted therein and expand said stud upon the latter being forced further inwardly, said wedge being pin-like and said parts of said stud being oppositely grooved to provide a longitudinal passage for said wedge, and said head having a bore communicating with said passage, said pin-like wedge being suihciently long to project through said bore beyond the outer surface of said head when the end of said stud is forced toward contact with the bottom of said recess. whereby force can be applied to said wedge to cause its plastic expansio said wedge being made of material suiiiciently malleable to flow when stressed by compression greater than that required to cause it to function as a wedge.

3. A rail bond terminal including the combination of a head, a longitudinally bifurcated stud extending from said head for insertion in a bottomed rail recess and a wedge for longitudinal insertion between the parts of said stud with its small end pointing toward said head and having a taper permitting its large end to project beyond the end of said stud without material expansion of the latter, said large end being adapted to contact the bottom of said rail recess when said stud is partially inserted therein and expand said stud upon the latter being forced further inwardly, said combination further including means for effecting the transfer of at least a portion of the force applied to force said stud further inwardly, directly to the small end of said wedge and longitudlnally of the latter prior to said stud being forced to its final position, said wedge being made of material sufllciently malleable to flow when stressed longitudinally by said transfer of said force to an extent greater than that required to cause it to function primarily as a wedge.

CARL E. STOLNACKE. ERNEST J. SABOL.

passage it functions as 

